Fire Protection Technology
- Certificate
- AAS
Application Deadline
The Fire Academy is the first semester of the AAS degree and provides the opportunity to receive Basic Fire Suppression certification with the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) and 25 credit hours towards the Fire Technology AAS degree. Note: Completion of a TCFP approved Fire Academy is required in order to be a career firefighter in Texas.
Subsequent semesters in the AAS degree in Fire Technology include advanced courses that prepare firefighters for first level supervision in a fire department and provide the opportunity to obtain advanced certifications from the TCFP.
Continuing Education courses provide training opportunities for career and volunteer firefighters. A variety of courses are offered for career firefighters to obtain additional advanced certifications with the TCFP. A Professional Development course is available for students who need to complete CE hours required by the TCFP to maintain certification or to complete TCFP Skills Tests.
The State Firefighters and Fire Marshal’s Association (SFFMA) Firefighter I and Firefighter II courses are based on curriculum and skills for certification with SFFMA. A variety of weekend courses are available through the Summer Smoke program for veteran volunteer firefighters that are based of SFFMA curriculum.
Degrees & Certificates
Level One Certificate – Fire Academy
Length
Costs
Mode
Important Links
Level One Certificate - Fire Officer
Length
Costs
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Associate of Applied Science - Fire Technology
Length
Costs
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Enhanced Skills Certificate - Fire EMT Basic
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Accreditation
College of the Mainland is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees and certificates.
How Certificates Stack
Level One Certificate - Fire Academy
Associate of Applied Science
Enhanced Skills Certificate - Fire EMT Basic
To obtain TCFP certification as Basic Structure Fire Suppression Personnel, students must complete both an approved Fire Academy and a recognized emergency medical course. The Fire EMT Basic Enhanced Skills Certificate is provided to satisfy this requirement.
Play VideoCareers & Outcomes
Rising to meet the growing demand for highly skilled fire service professionals, our highly regarded Fire Technology program has earned an exceptional reputation for developing well-trained, confident, and effective firefighters. Through comprehensive classroom instruction, hands-on training, and realistic emergency response scenarios, students gain the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to excel in today's fire service and serve their communities with professionalism, courage, and integrity.
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Additional Program Information
Financial Aid and Scholarships Available
- High school diploma or High School Equivalency (HSE)
- Physical Examination
- Required Immunization Records
- Completion of Fire Academy Application Process
- Apply to COM via ApplyTexas
- Meet with an advisor or enrollment coach to make sure you meet all program requirements.
- Complete the Fire Academy Application Process
- Attend the Fire Academy Orientation. Students will be notified of the time and room via email.
Firefighters currently employed by a political subdivision of the State of Texas, e.g. a fire department, are eligible for an exemption of tuition for credit or continuing education fire science courses. Note: Regular college fees are not covered by the exemption.
Volunteer firefighters that have been active members of an organized volunteer fire department of the state for three years and hold SFFMA Firefighter II or TCFP Firefighter II certification are also eligible for this exemption.
In order to obtain the exemption, students must obtain a letter from their department verifying employment or service to their volunteer department and provide it to the cashiers when registering and paying for courses.
Students that have successfully completed any of the below TCFP courses with their department or as a continuing education course with another educational agency may be eligible to file a Petition for Credit for the associated course towards the Certificate, provided they satisfy the petition’s requirements. Contact the Director of Fire Technology for details and to initiate the petition.
- FIRT 1443, Fire Officer II
- FIRT 1450, Fire Investigator
- FIRT 2111, Incident Safety Officer
- FIRT 2407, Fire Instructor II
Note: The maximum number of hours that may be obtained by Petition for Credit is 25 hours.
Cadets that successfully complete the Fire Academy will receive a TCFP Course Completion and will be eligible to take the TCFP’s Designated Skills Test. After successfully completing the Skills Test, cadets are eligible to take the Basic Fire Suppression certification examination. Cadets who successfully complete the certification examination and have completed a recognized emergency medical course are eligible to apply for Basic Fire Suppression certification. See the TCFP Standards Manual, Chapter 423.1(c), Minimum Standards for Structure Fire Protection Personnel for details.
Note: Basic Fire Suppression certification is required by the State of Texas in order to
be a career firefighter, i.e. paid firefighter.
Eligibility for an occupational license may be impacted by one’s criminal history. Students with a criminal history should confer with faculty or the department chairperson. Students have a right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the applicable licensing agency.
Fire Technology students are advised the reference the TCFP Standards Manual, Chapter 403, Criminal Convictions and Eligibility for Certification regarding criminal matters.